Self Released

Poodle Knight – Brave The Darkness [US, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 8-13-20

Stop it Crypt Hop. Stop trying being a thing. If you keep trying, you are going to end up making a decent release. I have been wary of a new tag that has been affixed to releases Crypt Hop is the purported marriage between hip hop beats and the morose atmosphere of dungeon synth. For any people who remember and currently come into contact with dungeon rap, this combination isn’t the most intuitive. This is why I was wary about Poodle Knight and why I am ultimately reserving judgement for the whole style until more decent releases, like Brave The Darkness, are recorded. Does this release work? Yes. Why? I don’t know. If I would to hazard a guess it is first and foremost the irreverent aesthetic that comes emblazoned on the cover. Somewhere between camp and immersive fantasy is the tale of Poodle Knight, Slayer of the Wicked, and Protector of the Realm of Lzar and their quest to rid the land of evil. Brave The Darkness works as a experiment of itself with its sounds opposed to each other yet keeping the structure in place. It is an odd sounds that shouldnt work but for right now the tales of Poodle Knight sing through the technicolor darkness.

Hole Dweller – flies the coop II [US, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 8-13-20

I was away for Hole Dweller’s debut and this fact still pains me to this day. Though I missed this stellar debut from the Us artist, I have been singing the praises of this year’s followup Returns to Roost as a striking continuation of progressive dungeon synth. Flies the coop II is the second installment to the first releases not only conceptually but atmopherically as it returns to the waist deep worn noise of the debut. If you are not bothered by the atmosphere, then flies the coop II, much like the debut, is a blissful journey into pastoral lands that is as wholesome and inviting as worn fantasy paperback novel. I am astounded that dungeon synth has reached a point that has brought traditional styling together with experimental sounds and embraces vintage atmospheres while continuing to explore the future of the sound. Hole Dweller has never ceased to amaze me at the journey they create. This is a fantastic release from an astounding artist.

OTDHR – REHEARSAL II [France, Black] (2020)

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Self Released | 9-13-20

I am not usually down with unfinished products. I understand raw black metal (and to some extent other genres) has an aesthetic that embraces unfinished work as it simultaneously showcases potential while celebrating unpolished atmospheres. OTDHR’s sound was enough to grab interest and this 9 minute rehearsal showed enough talent that I start to wonder what a full length would sound like. Some bands never move out of the demo and rehearsal realm content to keep exploring unrefined landscapes. OTDHR is different in the fact their angular approach to black / doom could be exquisite with the right framing. Rehearsal II (Previous one was a year ago) projects a band that is brimming with angst and airs a sense of mystery through 9 minutes of near sonic misery. Perhaps this will be a story of a band that climbs out of rehearsals and makes a demo (or full length) that amazes everyone. Even without that future, OTDHR is a rare find of a band that warrants putting up their practice recordings as they are interesting enough to sit and listen.

Flesh Megalith – Flesh Megalith [Australia, Death / Doom] (2020)

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Self Released | 8-6-14

Tags: metal, cavernousdeathmetal, doommetal, Australia. I feel everyone can remember a tie when cavern death was rampant and both good and generic releases were flooding bandcamp with labels devoting their roster to bands and albums with slimy sounding names. Flesh Megalith could have been apart of that wave and perhaps if it would have been releases in the mid 00’s, it would be glanced over. Luckily we are in 2020 and the sound of subterranean gloom can be appreciated. Flesh Megalith is here to remind us what the sound of glacial doom can sound like and give veryone a chance 100 years to dig our own graves. Flesh Megalith is the solo side project of the solo raw black metal act Burier. It is these two bands that wecan start tomap themindofits creator and abovr and below ground seem to be haunted with creatures of pure darkness and demise.

Telluric Effluvium – Dissolution of the Threefold Self [US, Funeral Doom] (2020)

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Self Released | 10-3-20

I could probably count the number of funeral doom records reviewed on this site in the entirely of its existence. To be short, funeral doom is not a popular style despite its robust history as an extreme metal genre. This is for various reasons but mainly one might struggle to find an audience that is into lengthy tracks combined with a dismal atmosphere. This hurdle however does not stop the genre and with the success of bands like Bell Witch, Funeral doom remains a niche but fertile genre to sow the seeds of despair. Dissolution of the Threefold Self is the debut full length from Denver based Telluric Effluvium. Over the course of three lengthy tracks, the band manages to weave a tapestry of gloomy dirges and condenses funeral doom’s most memorable aspects into a record that is only 30 minutes long. This might seem unorthodox for a genre that is famous for its glacial running time but Dissolution of the Threefold Self works in its expedited state and manages to be effective at a quicker pace. All hail eternal mourning.

Svart Solace – East Of The Tower Mill [US, Dungeon Synth / Ambient] (2020)

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Self Released | 8-3-20

It is comforting to see a DS release without a tape option since I know that I did not miss out on it. I just joke since I would most certainly be upset when i missed out on the tape release of this record. Svart Solace is an ambient composer that has found their way into the world of dungeon synth. Formed in June of this year, Svart Solace has released multiple records plus a compilation of early works and has no intention of stopping now. While the June releases are interesting, East of the Tower Mill proves to be the most accessible yet. Paranoid and quiet, Svart Solance masters the art of melancholy and reflection with a calm record of surreal ambiance.

Ænigmatum – Adorned in Wrath [US, Black / Death] (2020)

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Burning Coffin Recs | 9-22-20

Before wandering into this release expecting blistering black / death, allow me to explain all of these noodles. Ænigmatum is a Us based band that does play a variety of black / death but it leans more inteo blackened death. I do not like to differentiate between the two that much but for this instance it is best to think about the combination of black/death to be one sound with progressive melodies running on top. Think less Blasphemy and more Behemoth. That might all be confusing but what is not is a fantastic followup demo to a 2019 debut that sort of went ignored. Adorned in Wrath is seeing a tape release from Burning Coffin Recs based in Chile so it is my hope that this demo sees a larger audience that can help with sound differentiation.

Thermokarst – Demo [Canada, Black] (2020)

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FOOD FOR DOGS PRODUCTIONS | 8-3-20

Reverence is a power toxin when making music. Having a goal or style one wants to recreate and call their home is an easy direction for bands as it gives them a goal. Thermokarst is dedicated to the sound of second wave black metal even dedicating their opening track to a familiar phrase. But this is where expectations end as aside from treading familiar ground, Thermokarst debut demo goes beyond the call of worship and offers something much more fierce and caustic. Three tracks of blistering black metal that is balanced and unhinged is excatly what most people desire. Thermokarst offers abandon in darkness and though the band breathes raw smoke, they seem fully competent on what they are doing and how to handle axes.

Little Spells – The Forest Twigs Are My Wands [US, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Lost Armor | 8-3-20

Regardless if this dungeon synth is your style, one has to admit it is popular and perhaps one of the defining milestones of the the last few years in terms of sound. Comfy / mountain / village / nature / quiet / small / tiny or any other adjective to showcase the docile qualities of music that sounds like field mice brewing potions. The Forest Twigs Are My Wands is a compilation of two 2019 demos with a 30 copy tape release that was sold out in a matter of minutes. I enjoy the enthusiasm both from the creator and more importantly the community when it comes to this style of dungeon synth. It is endearing and above all else esoteric.

Darken Wood – VI [US, Dungeon Synth / Ambient] (2020)

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Self Released | 7-26-20

It is sometimes amusing to go back through a catalog and see that I bought something from an artist and never checked back to see what they were doing. Darken Wood’s debut was released in 2017 to positive reception including myself. That was around the same time i took a hiatus from keeping up to date with new DS. Much to my delight, the artist behind Darken Wood has continued the journey through ambient dungeon synth with a modest release schedule. VI is the first and most likely only release this year and adds another chapter in an ongoing conceptual journey through misty landscapes billowing with mystic fog. I am so grateful that artists continued to release music since now I can work my way through this discography like a series of fantasy novels.